Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R), who lost to Rep. Dave Loebsack (D) by 18 points in 2008, announced Monday that she’ll try again next year.

“I’m running for Congress because, as Americans, we can do better,— she said in a largely biographical video posted on her campaign Web site. Miller-Meeks also made four stops across the district Monday.

Miller-Meeks, an eye doctor, was initially touted by national Republican leaders last year as a solid recruit, but her fundraising was less than stellar and the race disappeared from the GOP radar screen fairly quickly.

The southeast Iowa 2nd district has increasingly trended Democratic, and President Barack Obama carried the district by 21 points last year.

In her Web announcement, Miller-Meeks made no mention of her party affiliation, and talked about issues that appeal to a cross-section of voters, like health care, job creation and the environment. But she did say, “Congress needs to be put in a straitjacket to keep their hands out of our pockets.—

Christopher Reed, the 2008 Republican nominee for Senate, and Steve Rathje, a businessman who also unsuccessfully sought the Senate nomination last year, may also run for the 2nd district seat.